Imagination, part two

There it is again: the word imagination in something I'm reading.

This time, however, the imagination is cast in a cautionary light. This time the writer is warning about the role of imagination in drawing us away from God.

Here's the concept: when you think about the future, when you imagine what tomorrow may hold, it is easy to let human fears intrude. How often has that happened to me! It's the "what-if" syndrome. It's that scary-in-the-middle-of-the-night anxiety.

I've noticed that when I am in that mode, I never dream up rosy outcomes. No! Somehow the worst-case-scenario always seems most likely when I'm awake at 3 a.m.

So, the caution is this: if imagination is paired with fear, it rarely leads to a closer faith-walk with God. In fact, when our fears loom large, they seem to obscure God completely!

What I take from this post and the one prior is that our imagination is neutral -- neither all good, nor all bad. It's the combinations that are important. (Imagination plus fear: bad. Imagination plus deep knowledge of scripture: good.)

Like most things in this life, there is a choice involved. Let's strive for that "disciplined imagination" and the benefits it offers.